O blessed man, whom God forgives

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O blessed man, whom God forgives

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1. O blessed man, whom God forgives,
And covers all his sin;
2. To whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
Who's free from guile within.
3. While I refused to own my crime,
The horror in my breast,
Dried up my bones; I roared all day,
And found no quiet rest.

4. For day, and night, thine awful hand,
Heavy upon me beat;
My moisture dried, as ground that's parched,
With summer's scorching heat.
5. I then resolved no more to hide,
My sin, but freely own
My fault to God; and thou forgav'st
The guilt of what I'd done.

6. The godly hence, in season, shall
To thee pour out his soul;
Then though great water floods should rage,
None over him shall rowl.
7. Thou art my hiding place, where I
From harm, shall sheltered be;
With songs of thy deliverance, thou
Shalt round encompass me.

Second Part

8. I'll thee instruct, and teach the way,
How thou may'st wisely live:
And safe direction, in thy walk,
My watchful eye shall give.
9. Ben't like the horse, or mule, which ne'er
Submit to reason's sway;
Whose mouths with bit, and reins, we rule,
And force them to obey.

10. The wicked, by their wickedness,
Their sorrows multiply;
But mercy shall encompass them.
Who on the Lord rely.
11. Let then the righteous ones be glad,
And in the Lord rejoice;
Let all, that are upright in heart,
Triumph with joyful voice.

Author: John Barnard

John Barnard, born in Boston, Nov. 6, 1681; in 1752 made a version of psalms with the music; settled at Marblehead; introduced new music ther; died Jan 14, 1770, aged 89.
A Dictionary of Musical Information by John W. Moore, Boston: Oliver, Ditson & Company, 1876
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